OSHA Inspection: POLY-METAL FINISHING, INC.

Issued

2015-09-28 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $2023.00 · Current $1012.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.23(a)(8): Every floor hole into which persons can accidentally walk were not guarded:  On the mezzanine in the wastewater treatment are at 1 Allen Street Springfield, MA:  On or about May 14, 2015, the employer had not guarded a floor hole, measuring approximately 14 inches long by 7 inches wide, around the sludge accumulator tank, which exposed employees to a tripping hazard.

Issued

2015-09-28 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $4900.00 · Current $2450.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.23(c)(1): Open-sided floors and/or platforms four feet or more above adjacent floor or ground level were not guarded with standard railings (or equivalent) and toeboards:  On the mezzanine platform in the wastewater treatment area at 1 Allen Street Springfield, MA:  On or about May 14, 2015, the employer did not provide a standard railing between the accumulator tank and the corner of the platform near the top of the stairway which exposed employees to a fall from height hazard of approximately 5 feet.

Issued

2015-09-28 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $2380.00 · Current $1190.00 Reduced

Hazardous substances 8870

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.107(c)(6): Electrical wiring and equipment not subject to deposits of combustible residues but located in a spraying area as herein defined were not explosion-proof type approved for Class I, group D locations and did not otherwise conform to the provisions of subpart S of this part, for Class I, Division 1, Hazardous Locations:  In the spray booth #2 and 3 regulated area at 1 Allen St Springfield, MA: On or about July 21, 2015, an Ace Hardware, model 33543, relocatable power tap was used to provide power to a Sony mini Hi-Fi component radio/CD system and neither device was rated as explosion-proof or approved for use in hazardous location approved which exposed employees to a fire hazard.

Issued

2015-09-28 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $4900.00 · Current $2450.00 Reduced

Hazardous substances 1460

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.132(d)(1)(i): When the employer had assessed the workplace hazards and determined that hazards were present, the employer selected but did not ensure the use personal protective equipment that would protect the affected employee from the hazards identified in the hazard assessment:  In the wastewater treatment area at 1 Allen Street Springfield, MA: On or about May 6, 2015, the employer did not ensure a wastewater operator was wearing a chemical apron while pumping a 49 percent hydrofluoric acid solution from a 55 gallon drum to 5 gallon buckets which resulted in the employee receiving a first degree burn on his right leg.

Issued

2015-09-28 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

Hazardous substances 1460

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.138(a): The employer did not select and require employees to use appropriate hand protection when employees hands were exposed to a hazardous condition  In the wastewater treatment area at 1 Allen Street Springfield, MA: On or about May 6, 2015, the employer did not ensure a wastewater treatment operator wore the appropriate type and length chemical glove while transferring a 49 percent Hydrofluoric Acid solution from a fifty-five (55) gallon drum into two (2), five (5) gallon containers.

Issued

2015-09-28 00:00:00

Abate by

2016-02-12 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $4900.00 · Current $2450.00 Reduced

Hazardous substances 0689

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1026(c): Employees were exposed to an airborne concentration of chromium (VI) which exceeded 5 micrograms per cubic meter of air, as an 8-hour time-weighted average:  In the anodizing and prime (A&P) department at 1 Allen Street Springfield, MA: On July 21, 2015, three A&P spray painters were overexposed to chromium VI at airborne concentrations of 59.9, 15.24 and 8.04 micrograms per cubic meter of air (ug/m3) which were 11.89, 2.96 and 1.52 times, respectively, the permissible exposure limit (PEL) of 5 ug/m3.

Issued

2015-09-28 00:00:00

Abate by

2016-02-12 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

Hazardous substances 0689

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1026(f)(1)(i): Feasible engineering controls and work practices were not instituted to reduce and maintain employee exposures to chromium (VI) at or below the permissible exposure limit (PEL):  In the anodize and prime department at 1 Allen Street Springfield, MA: On or about July 21, 2015, feasible engineering and work practice controls including, but not limited to, increasing exhaust ventilation rates, ensuring employees stand perpendicular to the exhaust ventilation airflow so as not affect the removal of overspray, installing make-up air ventilation in the spray booth room to decrease the negative pressure situation throughout the Anodize and Prime department, were not instituted to reduce three spray primer employees' exposure to chromium (VI) at or below the PEL.

Issued

2015-09-28 00:00:00

Abate by

2015-11-16 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $4900.00 · Current $2450.00 Reduced

Hazardous substances 0689

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1026(h)(1): A hazard was present from skin or eye contact with chromium (VI), the employer did provide appropriate personal protective clothing and equipment at no cost to employees; however, the employer did not did not ensure that employees used such clothing:  In the anodize and prime department at 1 Allen Street Springfield, MA: On or about July 21, 2015, three employees performed spray priming of aerospace parts and were overexposed to Chromium VI, were provided Tyvek suits with long sleeves and hoods; however, the employer did not ensure employees kept their coverall sleeves down and hoods on during the spray priming process.